The Dyslexic in the classroom Margaret Bevan www.partnersineducation partnersineducation.co..co.uk 1
Dyslexia Phonological processing Spelling Reading writing Sequencing Organisation Temporal Awareness Dysphasia Emotional Behavioural Difficulties DYSPRAXIA Misnomia Dysfluency Oral dyspraxia Literacy ADD/ADHD Motor skills Dressing Shoe laces Handwriting Impulsivity Overactive Dreamy 2
Main Areas of Difficulty Reading Spelling Writing at sentence and text level Handwriting (not always) 3
When it s s hard to read! Ereht saw llits on ngis fo eht srehto. Eht gnignis dah deppots sa yeht dehcaorppa eht pmac. Won ereht saw enoon ot eb nees. Neht yeht was no eht pot fo eno fo eht sexob a taegr etihw god. 4
Helping Reading Book needs to be at instructional level approx 95% accuracy Use repeated reading activities to develop immediate visual recognition Use paired reading to develop fluency Use precision reading to practise taught single words Use taped books to develop language skills of learner who can t t yet read. 5
Choosing a Reading Book Language should be natural and meaningful (not too phonic) Sentences should not be too long Pictures should help Print not too small Story shouldn t t be too long Reading books read at school at instructional level, could be read at home at independent level i.e. with 99 % accuracy Information books should be at independent level so that concentration is on content not words 6
Comprehensibility Pip split six figs in bits with pins! meaning? articulatory confusion! This is the malt the rat the cat the dog chased killed ate - meaning? syntactically complex! Try mirroring spoke language First, a rat ate the malt. Then, the cat killed the rat. Then, this dog chased the cat. 7
Hyperlexia Reading with little understanding Yr Arglwydd yw fy Mugail; ni bydd eisiau arnaf. Efe a wna i mi orwedd, mewn porfydd gwelltog: efe a m a m trwys ger llaw y dyfroedd tawel. 8
Helping Spelling Train phonological skills at syllable, rime and phoneme level Develop accurate phonetic spelling initially by following their speech Use spelling stories and word maps Develop skills of analogy (for phonically regular words), categorisation cuts down the memory load Develop visualisation skills ( for irregular words) Avoid overloading with mnemonics unless visual Teach morphological structure of long words Develop a motor memory for high frequency irregular words Prioritise the spelling of useful words 9
The Brain Left brain Language Logic Mathematical formula Numbers Sequences Analysis Words of a song Parts to whole Rote learning Unrelated facts Phonic reading Lists Right brain Forms and patterns Spatial manipulation Rhythm Musical appreciation Images & pictures Dimension Imagination Tune or a song Whole to parts Daydreaming Contextual reader Visualisation Colour 10
Learning Styles Left brain (Analytic) Right brain (Wholistic) Visual Auditory Kinaesthetic Visual Auditory Kinaesthetic Teach the pupil the way he learns best 11
Spelling Visually 1. Write word on card, using colour for different letters 2. Hold card up high so eyes (not head) are looking up 3. Take snapshots opening and closing eyes about 20 times 4. Look up with eyes closed, try to see the colours 5. Now try to see the letters of the word, spell it backwards, spell it forwards 6. Open eyes, were you right? If not repeat from 2 12
Spelling aids Spellchecker that recognises phonic spelling ACE spelling dictionary Key words/key vocabulary Adult helper A class buddy Wordprocessor plus software such as Texthelp,, Clicker Voice-activated software 13
Helping writing Use writing frames/storyboards Use key word vocabulary sheets Use WP for extended writing that requires redrafting Focus on one teaching point at a time, create individualised proof reading sheet Comment on content rather than secretarial skills 14
Helping handwriting Focus on correct pencil grip, paper and seating position Develop a cursive handwriting style preferably with a lead in approach stroke Use gridded paper to help with orientation of letters to the vertical as well as the horizontal Use shaded paper to help identify the mid- zone Develop skills of analysis to pinpoint areas for improvement 15
Compensation for weak writing skills Learn touch typing www.englishtype Write for them from their dictation Tape their stories Let them record using pictures /mindmaps/ mindmaps/ diagrams Use cloze passages No copying Use speech activated and predictive writing software 16
Other issues Short term and working memory Organisation and time management Orientation and sequencing Weak auditory and sometimes visual processing 17
Memory (Long term) Semantic memory The human memory store of knowledge of the world. The basis of all school learning Visual Spatial memory A perceptual memory visual and spatial knowledge. Episodic memory Personal episodes in an individual s s life Procedural Memory A memory not accessed by language but by doing things a body memory. Learning a skill like driving, riding a bike, handwriting etc. 18
Help for weak memory Set learning in context (overview the whole picture) Review learning before moving on Make first learning memorable use visuals and physical activities Overlearn,, use games Use numbers to quantify and spatial organisation to aid visualisation 19
Help for weak working memory Break down tasks into smaller components Positively reinforce requests for clarification Increase meaningfulness and degree of familiarity with material Regularly repeat important information Encourage continual verbal rehearsal to maintain important information as task is being performed Remove distractions Be mindful of those tasks requiring working memory - mental arithmetic, following instructions, phonic decoding when reading and understanding, composing and writing at text level. 20
Help for weak organisation Organise them in time and space Provide structures e.g colour coding Teach telling the time /days /months Out of control children don t t learn efficiently 21
Help for weak orientation and sequencing Provide strategies e.g. b/d fix one, the other one is the other one. Use concrete materials to manipulate e.g. alphabet, months of the year Overview, but teach only one step at a time Stage planning: brainstorm, then organise 22
Help for slow processing Allow time Remove pressure and stress Slow visual input through text enlargement Cut out far to near point copying Minimise auditory input by stressing key information only Build in time for pupil talk 23
Inclusion Be aware of different learning styles? How will you present information (input)? How will the information be retained processed? How will you expect the pupil to present what he has learned (output)? 24
For Dylexics Reduce the overload Interact with the material Use the creative power of imagination Create structures to organise information to be remembered e.g. alphabet arc 25
Dyslexic pupils are not looking for a way out. They are searching for a way in! Margaret Bevan wwww.partnersineducation partnersineducation.co..co.uk 26